Relax in a charming cordwood cabin on an off-grid property powered entirely by solar energy. Enjoy exclusive use of 50 acres of varied woodlands with over 4km marked & maintained nature trails (loaner snowshoes provided!) and special features like a SoundForest, a meditative walking labyrinth, plus a sauna made of local cedar... it’s like having your own private park! There’s even an option ($) to have a breakfast basket brought out.
The space
"Rustic, charming, super-cozy, romantic, one-of-a-kind" are some of the ways guests describe the cabin. No TV... the view out through 5 large windows is enchanting trees, and indoors you are surrounded by the visual warmth of walls constructed from hundreds of cordwood pieces. The cabin is super-private, down a 100m path through the forest from the parking area, out of sight from the host’s house. (A cargo cart/sled is provided for moving your gear.) This is year-round “glamping” with all the nature connection of camping, but way more comfortable & convenient.
CABIN AMBIENCE: The cabin was crafted using the cordwood masonry technique by Rob Roy, iconic proprietor of the Earthwood Building School of West Chazy, NY. It features a living roof, massive posts and beams from local Amish mills, a flagstone floor made from Wiarton quarry stone, and cordwood walls built from trees felled on the property. This quaint structure nestles itself organically into the forest which surrounds it and offers exceptional privacy and peace.
CABIN AMENITIES: The cabin does not have running water but alternate conveniences are at hand. There is a Victorian washstand & basin in the cabin and a butane stove to heat water. (If you’re wondering how to use this to wash, it’s easy, they did it that way for years! Instructions are in the cabin Guest Guide.) Plus of course the sauna is a delightful, relaxing (and detoxifying!) way to get clean.
Ample water is provided for drinking and washing. The cabin has enough electrical power for lighting and small plug-ins like device chargers, plus there's a variety of battery-powered lanterns. While cooking is not permitted inside, the woodstove or butane stove may be used to heat water, or you can cook outside with your campstove (or borrow mine).
An outhouse, opposite the cabin, is not an old-style pit privy but instead contains a modern flush-action portable toilet. Featuring aromatic cedar panelling and a window to the forest, you may stay in there longer than you expect ;-)
CABIN COMFORT: The cabin is heated by woodstove and a plentiful supply of wood (in winter, I get started hours ahead so that you arrive to a warm cabin). In summer, the stone floor keeps the cabin cool on all but the hottest of days. A hardwood futon frame and upgraded six-layer mattress provide comfortable seating and sleeping for one or two people. (In case you are concerned about such things, but too polite to ask, the mattress has a breathable micro-pore inner cover which locks out moisture, bed bugs, etc). Bedding is good-quality 100% cotton linens and cozy Canadian Hutterite down duvet. Towels are provided.
This sustainable rural homestead is completely off-grid, with no utility connections to the “outside world”. Electricity is generated on-site from solar energy and some clever electronics. A modern sealed well drilled almost 300’ into the bedrock supplies clean, fresh water from an aquifer. And an approved septic system responsibly processes waste water. Heat comes from carbon-neutral firewood all harvested on the property. If you’re interested in how home-based renewable energy works, feel welcome to ask the host for walk-thru of the system!
Guest access
In addition to the accommodation, another part of the value in your stay is exclusive use of 50 acres of woodlands with 4km of marked trails looping through varied types of forest, each with its own character: mystical cedars, feathery larches, towering red pines, fragrant spruces, sugar maple hardwood bush, and white pines that whisper to you in the breeze. You basically have your own private nature park. Guests will receive a printed trail map and guide to the forest areas.
You will also find special features like a magical SoundForest of suspended wind chimes and a meditative walking labyrinth winding its way through the pines. And on a clear night don’t be surprised to find yourself awestruck as the dark country sky treats you to a stargazing extravaganza.
In addition to the features in and around their accommodation, guests have access to the following amenities on the property:
+ relax and clear your pores in the wood-fired sauna (book a time, or just let host know a couple hours ahead to get it warming)
+ refresh yourself in the outdoor shower (ambient temp, not heated) anytime – not operational in winter, instead large water pails are provided for sauna rinsing
+ use the campfire pit, with unlimited firewood provided
The host’s house, built around a circa-1850 pioneer log home, is located more-or-less in the centre of this 50 acre woodland property. The cabin is about 100m west of the house, and the yurt about 150m east of it, both sequestered in the forest, out of sight and private. NOTE: cabin and yurt are not rented concurrently except to the same guest group.
Other things to note
CLEANING PROTOCOL - While I follow Airbnb’s cleaning procedures to the extent reasonably possible, be advised this is unique accommodation and many of the interior surfaces (e.g., wood, stone, felt, fabric) are natural, unfinished or porous, and cannot be sanitized/disinfected with solutions or sprays. In lieu of this, as an added guest safety measure, I manage the booking calendar to ensure a buffer of at least one full day between occupancy of the cabin. In other words, you will never be checking-in on the same day a guest has checked-out of your accommodation.
BREAKFAST ($) – Have a delightful and relaxed start to the day by treating yourself to brekkie-in-a-basket brought to the cabin at a time of your choosing. Breakfast is wholesome and homemade and always includes organic home baking and as much locally-sourced product as possible. Plus of course superb locally-roasted coffee, or black/green/herbal tea.
MAKE YOUR STAY A RETREAT ($) - Services provided on-site by SoulTrail include guided forest therapy walk, better breathing instruction, or treat yourself to a private yoga class in a bright airy yurt, either introductory or custom-developed based on your experience level and preferences.
PET ALLOWANCE: Guests are welcome to bring ONE dog but must include pet on the reservation. In consideration of woodstove safety in the limited space of the cabin, dogs larger than 40 lbs are not permitted during heating season, October-thru-April. Since pets require extra cleaning attention between guests, a $25 fee (per stay, not per night) is added to your booking.
COUNTRY LIVING: Being situated in a rural area, at certain times of year you may occasionally hear (or, ah, smell) agricultural activities in the neighbouring vicinity. Similarly, the trade-off for living surrounded by the good vibes and plentiful oxygen from tens of thousands of trees is inconveniences like bugs… welcome to country life! I generally know the times of year these are most impactful but nothing can be guaranteed. If it is a concern, please inquire before booking.
